Abstract: Structural analysis was made using X-ray diffraction (XRD) Rietveld refinement on a series of La1+xMg2-xNi9 (x=0.02~1.0) ternary alloys. Results showed that each of La1+xMg2-xNi9 alloys was a PuNi3-type structure stacked by LaNi5 and (La, Mg) Ni2 blocks. Electrochemical tests revealed that discharge abilities of these La-Mg-Ni ternary alloys mainly depended on their atomic distances between (La, Mg) and Ni, which could be modified by varying the atomic ratios of La/Mg.

Key words: Hydrogen storage alloy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Crystal structure, La-Mg-Ni ternary alloy